Look, Star Wars: Rebels is alright, but they could be doing something so much more stylized and interesting with the franchise, like Genndy Tartakovsky’s Star Wars: Clone Wars. They should be doing, say, a Star Wars cartoon that looks like a late-80s sci-fi anime, with detailed ships and dramatic shading. That’s what animator Paul Johnson has been working on for the last four years of weekends, and now he has finished his seven-minute short. Star Wars: Tie Fighter takes inspiration from the 1994 PC game of the same name and captures that dark, cool look of some classic anime like Gunbuster. Watch it and be amazed! Read more…
FUNimation already has the rights to Sengoku Basara, an adaptation of a Dynasty Warriors-style game about feudal Japan. So I suppose it just makes sense for them to lock down the rights to a similar anime. Samurai Warriors (Sengoku Musou in Japan) is an adaptation of a Dynasty Warriors spin-off game about feudal Japan. It sounds like a rip-off, but considering that not only Samurai Warriors, but also Dynasty Warriors came before Sengoku Basara, it’s safe from such accusations. The anime starts on January 11, 2015, on the FUNimation Streaming Service. You have to pay a cheap subscription rate, but you can also use a 14-day free trial, even at the end of the series, so you can binge it all in one go. Read more…
Since Pokemon Black 2 & White 2, new Pokemon games have received anime teasers to sell what the game is like, but prettier. To be honest, I think they’re pretty cool, with lots of action and a tantalizing overview of some of the game’s moments. But invariably, I realize that they look too good; we’ll never get anything that cool in the Pokemon anime with dopey Ash Ketchum, the world’s least-capable Pokemon protagonist. Why can’t Nintendo do something cool with the anime like these game ads? Tell the animators to get on it! Read more…
Posted by Ben Huber on Aug 25, 2014 in Uncategorized
You may know Kunihiko Ikuhara from his various popular shows (Revolutionary Girl Utena, Penguindrum, he directed much of the original Sailor Moon anime), or from his many eccentricities (his cosplay as Sailor Mars). Yesterday, a countdown finished which revealed the official website for his next anime project: Yuri Kuma Arashi. This isn’t really much of a surprise, as this had been assumed and the manga adaption has already begun. Ikuhara will direct, character concepts are by Akiko Morishima, character designs are by Etsuko Sumimoto, and it’ll be produced by Silver Link. Interesting! The site now features several dates listing updates time, so we’ll check back in on September 15th! Read more…
Most fan-made anime versions of Harry Potter seem to focus on how perfect the series would be for a romantic comedy, set in Hogwarts with attractive characters. Very few people go crazy with their mash-ups, like this new video from Nacho Punch. Take Harry Potter, then mix it with Akira to get a cyberpunk 80s anime version of everyone’s favorite wizard. Sure, I don’t think Akira is actually cyberpunk, but it’s got a lot of the visual cues from similar cyberpunk anime from the late 80s and early 90s. Beyond the parts that mesh well, I laughed at the superficial changes, like adding “cyber” or “neo” to words to indicate how futuristic things are. Read more…
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 7, 2014 in Anime, Cinema
Unlike the Cowboy Bebop and Akira movies that never got off the ground, Hollywood is actually managing to remake an anime into a live-action film — just not one you expect. This is Kite, scheduled for release sometime in 2014. The original Kite (or A Kite in Japan) is an OVA made of 2 30-minute episodes, often edited into one 60-minute film. It’s also extremely violent and somewhat controversial for its scenes of graphic sex and rape, including scenes of the main character Sawa as a young girl; some places even list it as a hentai, though it’s not. It’s been remade as a live-action American film, though it’s almost certainly based on the earlier censored releases that cut out the actual depiction of rape. India Eisley stars as Sawa, while Samuel L. Jackson is the guy who gets top billing. Jackson is actually a fan of Kite, though again, I’d have to imagine he’s thinking of the censored version that most fans have seen. The first trailer is below, and it looks pretty stylish. Read more…
In a kind of crazy turn of events, an anime film about Bayonetta has been announced called Bayonetta Bloodyfate (in the tradition of anime spin-off films having bizarre names). The cast is exactly the same from the games, and the film will be animated by Gonzo. If you’re an anime fan, the name Gonzo probably gives you a sense of dread. Granted, it’s a feature length film, so perhaps it’ll have a longer period in the oven, but I’m not too optimistic given Gonzo’s previous output. Still, Bayonetta could work as an anime film, but this trailer isn’t giving me the right vibes. Check it out below. Read more…
This past week, it seems every anime studio wanted to get their trailers out in front of the world! First up we’ve got out first real look at Kill la Kill, Trigger’s October anime series featuring dueling ladies in a fantasy school (made by Gurren Lagann director Hiroyuki Imaishi!). A clear look at Space Dandy also showed up! This is a January 2014 series from Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichiro Watanabe, featuring… well… a dandy guy in space! Both look really impressive. Lastly, a short trailer for Ghost in the Shell Arise: border 2, Ghost Whispers was uploaded, which is the next chapter in the direct-to-video reimagining of the series. Check out all the trailers below! Read more…
Arc System Works has released a trailer for the first anime adaptation of BlazBlue, their spiritual successor to Guilty Gear. Titled BlazBlue: Alter Memory, the trailer first recaps a bunch of anime intro footage from the games, as if you remind you that yes, they have been animating fights all along and this is a natural extension. And then, there’s the new footage, which is looking pretty sharp. The anime will supposedly adapt the tangled plot of the first game (BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger), but I’d hope that they consider continuing it into the sequels. Hideki Tachibana (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kira) will direct with Seiji Mizushima (Fullmetal Alchemist, Mobile Suit Gundam 00). Read more…
Otakon is in full swing this weekend! If you’re not there you’re missing out on Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichiro Watanabe’s panel, at which he announced his next anime: Space Dandy. It’s a comedy about a crew of alien hunters lead by Dandy, the dandiest man in space. Dandy and his two partners, Meow and QT (a robot Dandy bought thinking it would be cool, but was actually “a Roomba”), travel the galaxy in search of new aliens not yet discovered. Watanabe promised “old school” Flash Gordon-styled space adventures with tons of crazy alien designs each week. And, the staff list looks incredibly solid, with Dai Sato and BONES on the list. Check out an off-screen video below of the trailer as well as more images. Read more…
I’m still a little surprised that Sailor Moon is poised to make a comeback after so many years of laying low. But there’s a new anime on the way this winter after a delay from its original air date this summer. This anime apparently won’t be a remake of the original anime, but will instead take a different direction. This could mean that it will simply interpret the original manga in a different way, or it could mean a new story. The makers are still figuring some things out, since there are no voice actresses confirmed, not even for main character Usagi (Serena for you American fans). Read more…
Posted by Bob Muir on Jul 24, 2013 in Anime, Cinema
I remember everyone clamoring for a Persona 3 anime after the game came out. I’d have to imagine all those fans were disappointed by Persona: Trinity Soul, which was actually a sequel (though now considered non-canon) with none of the likable characters from the game. But hey, Persona 4: The Animation did well enough, so now Persona 3 is getting an anime adaptation, starting with Persona 3 The Movie: #1 Spring of Birth. The first actual trailer has been released, and it’s looking great! Read more…
Sailor…Moon…in the coffee! If a barista is talented enough, they can make some intricate designs in your morning latte. One Japanese latte artist is using toothpicks, chocolate syrup and cocktail syrup to draw anime characters in coffee. Going by the name Sugi on Twitter, the artist hand-draws two or three cups a day. She only started working on latte art last April, but she has already done over 800 cups! Read more…
Remember how I was getting excited for Hiroyuki Imaishi’s new studio and their work? Well their first full-length series has been announced: Kill la Kill. This show will reunite a portion of staff who worked on Gurren Lagann, including Kazuki Nakashima (scriptwriter for the popular giant robot show), along with Imaishi. Sushio will be doing the character designs. The story will revolve around a post-apocalyptic all-girls school in which each girl has a uniform that match their skills and powers. The main character, Ryuuko, will battle against the equally powerful Satsuki, the Student Council President, who desires control of the school. Seems like a suitably ridiculous premise for a series. Check out some more concept and promotional art below. Read more…
I remember being so pumped for the Iron Man anime, based on a short concept trailer with fantastic animation. Alas, despite studio Madhouse’s involvement, it turned out to be a pile of crap, with awful CG, terrible art, and poor direction all around. So why does this new Iron Man anime film look so awesome? Read more…
Are you ready for more Ghost in the Shell? How about a new anime? And what if it looked to be completely new? That’s what we’ve got with Ghost in the Shell Arise, a new project from Production I.G.! While Kenji Kamiyama is not involved, Kazuchika Kisa will be the chief director, and Tow Ubukata will be supervising and scripting the anime. Cornelius will be composing music. Ubukata is the writer and creator of Mardock Scramble, which will either make you apprehensive or pleased. I’m the former. Still, I can’t help but be interested in seeing how a new Ghost in the Shell anime will turn out. We’ll be hearing more details at a livestreamed event on February 12th. Click below for full art of the new look for Makoto Kusanagi! Read more…
Dang, Atlus, slow down! Just yesterday I’m writing about the Devil Survivor 2 anime, and now there’s a teaser trailer for a Persona 3 anime adaptation! Read more…
Bravo on Atlus for having the guts to retain the original name of a game when it’s adapted into an anime. Even though Persona 4: The Animation was the first Persona anime actually based on the games (we don’t talk about Persona: Trinity Soul), it didn’t shy away from keeping the “4” in the title, despite the fact that it may alienate potential viewers a bit. Now they’re doing the same with the Devil Survivor 2 anime, and here’s the trailer to prove it. Read more…
And there’s barely any details… Hiroyuki Imaishi is one of my favorite Japanese animators, particularly for his work on Gurren Lagann, Panty & Stocking, Dead Leaves, and FLCL. But now that GAINAX has fallen apart, he’s gone his own way and formed a new studio called Studio Trigger with many of his old buddies from his last job. They have just released a short teaser for their first project, Inferno Cop – and there’s not too much to go on in the teaser. It’s set to debut on Christmas though, so I’m sure we’ll see more then. Along with Imaishi, Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Akira Amemiya are also working on this anime. It’s a pretty solid lineup, so I’m anxious to hear more details about this in the next few days! Read more…
There’s anime of nearly everything. World leaders in high school? Check. Ancient Japanese warriors as teenage girls? Check. Demon fighters powered by breast milk? Also check. Now we’re getting an anime adaption of the old-school Nintendo/Sega console wars. Based on an existing manga called Aoi Sekai no Chushin de, it features two warring states, Segua and Ninterudo, fighting over the land of Consume. Marcse (Mario) is the powerful overlord of Ninterudo, but the main character is Gear (Sonic), who rises up to take him on. Seems ridiculous? Yes. But also hilarious. Read more…
In case you missed the boat, Hatsune Miku is serious business. The virtual music star started out as a mascot for a certain Vocaloid voice synthesizer and grew to be a legitimate pop idol that swept Japan. After even getting her own live concerts thanks to 3D projection technology, it’s time for the next step in her musical career: teaming up with an orchestra for a symphonic concert. Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Aug 28, 2012 in Anime, Fandom
Recently a friend dropped an interest factoid onto my Facebook page: Thirty years ago today on August 28th, 1982 as part of the Creation Summer Expo*NY comic book con there was a mini-convention held inside which was called the Star Blazers Mini Con. Up until that point there were gatherings of anime fans in New York City thanks to the local chapter of the Cartoon/Fantasy Organization, but this was the first time that anime fandom found a place inside of a larger convention. My memory is fuzzy but the event lasted two full days, had about 100 people hanging around at any time and featured a mix of videotapes being played along with panel discussions. Read more…
Excited about that Mass Effect anime announced a little while ago? Here’s a good look at it, with a full-length trailer being released at Comic-Con this week. FUNimation is partnering up with Production I.G. and T.O. Entertainment to create the film and, well, it looks simply average. There are a few interesting shots in the trailer but for the most part it fails to excite me. Paragon Lost will be all about James Vega’s battle with the Collectors, so essentially this is something that will probably not grab most people unless they’re die hard Mass Effect fans.
Great news for Sailor Moon fans everywhere! At a recent event celebrating the 20th anniversary of Naoko Takeuchi’s incredibly popular magical girl manga series, it was announced that a new Sailor Moon anime will be released in 2013. While details are vague, we do know it is a broadcast anime, and that they plan to release it around the world simultaneously. Momoiro Clover Z will perform the theme song, as well. Sounds like great news for fans everywhere! Read more…
